The Fresh Tomato: 6 ways to Enjoy Summer’s Bounty
Nothing says summer like a nice ripe, juicy tomato. Homegrown tomatoes are best if you have the talent, patience, and space for growing them. The second best is the farm-stand tomato. Supermarket tomatoes just don’t seem to have the same flavor, but are often the only option available to us.
Luckily, I live in Florida where the tomato-growing season is long. However, modern transportation now makes farm-fresh produce available to many of us throughout the year.
In this blog post, I am going to share with you a few of my favorite ways to enjoy the tomato, which is possibly the most versatile summer vegetable.
The BLT- Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato
A typical summer lunch during my childhood was the old-fashioned tomato sandwich which is simply white bread, mayonnaise, tomato slices, salt, and pepper. When we wanted to dress it up a bit, we added bacon and lettuce, and it became the BLT.
The origins of the first bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich appear to be in the early 1900s. According to the website FoodReference.com the sandwich gained popularity after World War II when supermarkets allowed access to fresh tomatoes and lettuce year-round. The abbreviation “BLT” became widely used, and first appeared in print in the early 1950s.
Fast forward many years, and the BLT remains one of the most popular sandwiches. My version includes toasted 5-grain Italian bread, Duke’s mayonnaise, crispy bacon, thick fresh tomato slices, and crunchy lettuce leaves. Always finished with salt and a generous grinding of black pepper.
That, my friends, is summer on a plate.
Caprese- a Simple Tomato Salad
Caprese is a simple salad that is named after the beautiful Italian island of Capri. This colorful dish is an absolutely gorgeous addition to any summer buffet.
When making the Caprese salad, use the best ingredients that you can find. Fresh, ripe tomatoes layered with buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil leaves. Finish off with a generous pour of the best olive oil you have and a little balsamic glaze.
Occasionally my husband and I will add a little prosciutto to the salad, and voila! It becomes supper.
Bruschetta- A Burst of Freshness
The term Bruschetta comes from the Italian word bruscare which means “to roast over coals.” Traditionally, bruschetta is made with toasted bread, rubbed with olive oil and garlic.
My favorite bruschetta recipe is Balsamic Bruschetta, featured on Allrecipes.com. This delicious appetizer combines the tangy flavors of balsamic vinegar, tomatoes, and freshly grated parmesan cheese. Resist the urge to increase the garlic in the recipe as it can quickly overwhelm all the other flavors.
The wonderful thing about this recipe is its ability to be prepared in advance, allowing the bruschetta to be readily available for guests as soon as they arrive.
Tomato Pie- A Southern Tradition?
I’m beginning to wonder if my Southern roots run as deep as I thought. Apparently, tomato pie is a bona fide Southern classic. And not just any Southern recipe, but a tradition in my home state of South Carolina!
However, I had never heard of this delicacy until I read about it in one of the China Bayles novels written by author Susan Wittig Albert. (In case you don’t know who China Bayles is– She is a fictitious Texas attorney-turned-herb shop owner-turned-sleuth. I highly recommend this series if you enjoy a light murder mystery along with unique recipes and dashes of herbal wisdom.)
Well, this week I decided to make my own tomato pie. I chose this Tomato Pie recipe from The Food Network. The process was quite lengthy, which involved salting the tomatoes and allowing them to rest for a couple of hours before assembling and baking the pie.
The result was quite tasty. I loved the tangy mayonnaise along with the savory cheeses, fresh tomatoes, onion, and basil. And of course, lots of pepper. Perfect for a summer lunch.
Roasted Tomatoes, Green Beans, and Onion
Roasted veggies are possibly the easiest side dish to prepare. Toss the vegetables together in olive oil, and they cook effortlessly in the oven while you prepare everything else.
For the featured dish here, I tossed green beans, grape tomatoes, and sweet onion in olive oil. Added a few grinds of sea salt and black pepper. The vegetables were roasted in a 400-degree oven for about 20 minutes. So delicious and so easy!
Sliced Tomato- The perfect summer Side Dish
Sometimes on a hot summer day, you want to serve up a delicious meal to your friends and family. But you aren’t in the mood to create any more heat in the kitchen.
Grab a juicy, ripe tomato, and slice it into nice thick slices. Add a little sea salt and freshly ground pepper.
This is perhaps the easiest and freshest side dish ever. It tastes simply amazing with just about everything. Serve it with eggs at breakfast, alongside chicken salad at lunch, and with sweet corn and ribs at dinner.
So simple yet so delicious!
The Tomato- The Options are Endless
This brief blog post only scratches the surface of the extensive culinary possibilities that tomatoes offer. They enhance sandwiches, appetizers, salads, side dishes, and can even take center stage in a pie.
I urge you to explore new recipes with this versatile vegetable and please share your ideas with me, as I’m eager to give them a try myself!
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